The next steps for Drey Jameson

This story was excerpted from Steve Gilbert’s D-backs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

D-backs right-hander Drey Jameson has decided to not undergo Tommy John surgery and will instead try a rest and rehab program to recover from a sprained ulnar collateral ligament.

Jameson was placed on the IL on July 7, and the 25-year-old solicited three opinions on how to treat his elbow -- talking with team doctor Gary Waslewski along with Keith Meister and Neal ElAttrache before electing to go the rehab route.

“He is going to start the plyometric phase where he's going to get a ball in his hand, range of motion, throw some things against the wall just to see how it feels,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “And hopefully start to ramp up. It'll be Day 1 of a return to throw program and we're really happy for that decision. He made it. He was the one that did all the research, and I'm sure it's been grinding on him, but he's completely 100 percent bought in on this being the right decision.”

Lovullo pointed to former D-backs right-hander Luke Weaver, who was able to avoid surgery and return to pitching after going through the rehab program.

There is no timetable for Jameson’s return, though it seems unlikely he will be able to return this year.

It’s also possible that if the rehab does not go the way he hopes, Jameson could elect to undergo Tommy John surgery, which would mean he would not return to action until 2025.